Myths and Legends of China

It's difficult to decide how to rate this book, especially after reading Paul French's 'Midnight in Peking' and discovering the author was a superhuman figure who not only spent virtually his entire working life in China, but was capable of navigating the Shanghai underworld, pulling off midnight B&E jobs on brothels, and surviving a Japanese internment camp - all while in his seventies. The book is still a decent survey, but time has passed it by and there are much better and more recent studies out there, notably Eberhard's 'Chinese Folktales'.

It's difficult to decide how to rate this book, especially after reading Paul French's 'Midnight in Peking' and discovering the author was a superhuman figure who not only spent virtually his entire working life in China, but was capable of navigating the Shanghai underworld, pulling off midnight B&E jobs on brothels, and surviving a Japanese internment camp - all while in his seventies. The book is still a decent survey, but time has passed it by and there are much better and more recent studies out there, notably Eberhard's 'Chinese Folktales'.

Good for overview of China history through it's Myths and Legends. A catalog of historical characters since 2100 B.C. Mostly covers the multitude of "Gods" who populate the underworld and overworld and are recognized daily by the Chinese people. Gives definition to what the west sees as strange physical distortions in depicted representations. Many of the "Gods" are successful leaders who are advanced in stature when they die. Good contrast to Greek or Norse mythology which changes to mono theism from poly theism that still prevails in China. Worth reading although profusion of multiple names and evolving names makes it difficult to follow or retain any relation between principle characters or the Dynasty they are associated with. Would show more be more useful if real effort was taken to map the various players and associate them with a temporal reference. Worth reading for perspective on the emerging political and economic world force, China! show less

China at it's worst: Filled with intellectual babble and snide personal comments of the Chinese culture, this author definitely sheds an angry light on Chinese culture. If you must buy this book head straight to the stories because the first half of this book is more suited for the opinion section of a newspaper and will leave a bad taste in your mouth.